next G wireless broadband

Submitted: Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 19:41
ThreadID: 45153 Views:2664 Replies:7 FollowUps:10
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eveming all
just wondering if anybody is using the nextG wirelees broad band with the modemand plugging into 240v as against the fully prtable mobile broadband
as we have an invertor in the car and a generator when needed i have 240v and just wondering whether its any better or worse as you can get up to 1 gig at 256 for $50 a month
steve
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Reply By: Mr Fawlty - Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 21:00

Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 21:00
I have a TUC500 and have used the inbuilt internet thing on it occasionally but I am considering useing the phone as a modem (it came with software and cable) via a telstra datapac, I was looking at the $20/month option as I would only want it to do the banking etc while I'm away. Alas I HAVE NOT BEEN AWAY for a long while and don't look like getting away now for another 6 months so if anyone does use this I too woulod like to know how it goes....
AnswerID: 238283

Follow Up By: Richard W (NSW) - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 07:26

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 07:26
I've got the TU500 and purchased an $8 datapac. It was a bit of a pain to configure as the PC/PDA needs a special command string for the phone to recognise the device. It does work OK and I have been able to do banking on the a laptop with a Bluetooth dongle although the bank I use doesn't support the PDA version of windows.
The phone has lost its settings a couple of times for no apparent reason which is also frustrating.

From my experience the NextG signal is still not as good as CDMA in some areas and I'm considering an in car kit.
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FollowupID: 499417

Reply By: Notso - Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 21:04

Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 21:04
I use the Next G network with my Notebook. $29 data pack gets you 70 MB data. Enough for emails as long as your mates don't send videos etc in their emails.

I know others who use the Data card and it seems OK too.
AnswerID: 238286

Follow Up By: David N. - Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 21:26

Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 21:26
I have the 240v USB wireless Modem (Blue, "Maxon") and couldn't be happier with it.
$50 gives me a gig a month.
I'm also in the process of fitting a high-gain external antenna on my van. (ANY CDMA external antenna is acceptable with the appropriate adaptor.
Cheers
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FollowupID: 499382

Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 22:08

Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 22:08
Notso

If you use Outlook you can set it to Down load Headers

Tools-> send and receive-> down load headers
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Follow Up By: disco1942 - Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 22:45

Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 22:45
For Thunderbird (& Netscape) go to Tools > Account Settings > Disk Space. Then put a tick in the box and put a figure of say 5 in the 'Messages larger than' box. When you have downloaded your messages you can go through the messages greater than 5k and either download the rest or delete the message.

PeterD
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Follow Up By: Notso - Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 23:14

Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 23:14
Yeah, I use a little thing called Mailwasher that lets me do that and also lets me bounce Junk Mail back to the sender as if I don't exist, among other things.

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Reply By: disco1942 - Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 23:01

Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 23:01
I am using the Next-G wireless modem after much soul searching and research. All the Telstra or BigPond services are OK but the wireless modem can give you the cheapest rates. However, as Steve pointed out, it suffers from the problem of needing a 240V supply as it comes out of the box.

This short coming can be overcome with a 12V-6V step down device available from the likes of DSE or Jaycar. They come built into an enlarged cigarette lighter type socket. Modify the modems power cable bu cutting it and joining it back up with a plug and cable socket (the plug on the bit to the modem.) You then terminate the 6V output cable from the power converter with a similar on to the one you have added to the power brick cable. You can then use the modem with either the original power brick or the new power converter.

PeterD
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AnswerID: 238309

Reply By: Bill from Custom Boat Loaders- Monday, May 07, 2007 at 08:56

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 08:56
Where are you getting the $50.00 a month. We're with Telstra and paying $79 for the 1G per month and have the Maxon card - works well in broadband areas but can be a little flaky in outer areas.

Dian
AnswerID: 238344

Follow Up By: Gob & Denny - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 19:05

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 19:05
goodday dian
bigpond site

internet plans

wireless

modem plans

fast gfast/256kbps $49.95 1 gig

steve
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Follow Up By: disco1942 - Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 01:04

Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 01:04
You wont get that price on most of the cards or pen drive sized USB devices. Only on the "wireless modem."

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Reply By: Pomgonewalkabout - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 21:39

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 21:39
I was all set to purchase the USB plug in modem today, but after reading this post I opted for the 240v modem and as someone has already pointed out I can wire it to run off a 12v cig socket with a 6v step down that I already have.

What swayed me as well is that the modem is $50 cheaper and I will save $30 a month on the 1GB plan compared to the little USB dongle.

So here I am new modem installed and still on dial up as I type!!!

I managed to install the modem okay but after installing the software from the CD rom, the connecting to Bigpond page sits there doing nothing.

A call to Bigpond support and they tell me that the connect manager software that came with the modem is out of date, and that I need to download the latest version.

That is what I am doing 19mb on 21kbps dialup, should be done by midnight!

I don't know you do the right thing stick with Telstra and this is what happens

Anyone else have issues when installing or swithcing from dial up?

I have been with Bigpond dial up for about ten years, but it is so slow now.

Mind you when this wireless modem connected the speed was only 65kbps where is the 256 that is advertised?

The instructions leave a lot to be desired as it doen't mention anything on how you chance from dial up to Broadband and keep your original email address.

A long night ahead.....

cheers

AnswerID: 238477

Follow Up By: Muddy doe (SA) - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 22:10

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 22:10
When I did my install (the usb model) it connected to the network itself automatically to download the latest drivers and software. It did not rely on you having an independent connection! It took about 20 minutes but it was all automated. It then restarted and I was up and away.

If your download fails on dial-up for some reason (19Mb on dial up sounds very painful!) then restart it using the new modem. It should be part of the initial setup.

Sound crazy that you have to connect a new modem via another connection to download software to get it to connect! No wander we all love Telstra so much....

Cheers
Muddy
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Follow Up By: disco1942 - Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 01:08

Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 01:08
Your system is not Vista is it? If it is you need to ask for another disk as the one in the box is only good for win up to XP

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Reply By: Pomgonewalkabout - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 23:18

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 23:18
16mb of 19mb downloaded only 51 minutes to go.

I know it does seem ridiculous but that's what Bigpond support told me to do, makes you think what other people are doing if they don't have dial up.

Everything seemed fine at 4pm! It would be easier to download new software vis the new modem, but it just sat there saying connecting to Bigpond for over an hour.
AnswerID: 238504

Follow Up By: Muddy doe (SA) - Monday, May 07, 2007 at 23:24

Monday, May 07, 2007 at 23:24
Hah!

That means it was probably doing the update as I mentioned above. Oh well.

Cheers and Good luck

Muddy
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Reply By: Pomgonewalkabout - Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 13:40

Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 13:40
Whoa there slow down,

It is now installed and working and very fast

Goodbye Dialup RIP

cheers
AnswerID: 238569

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